Heritage Harbour season coming to an end

By John P. Evans III

Capital Gazette|

Aug 25, 2019 | 6:41 AM

Beau Richardson was the Cannon Club champion in the 12-13 age division. (Courtesy Photo)

With the conclusion of the annual men’s club championship, Heritage Harbour golf pro Jon Magarace can start planning for the course’s unofficial season-ending event. That would be the Heritage Harbour Ryder Cup, which will be held Oct. 4-6 at the club.

Opened in 1982, the nine-hole, 1,100-yard course, is available to members of the retirement community off Harry S. Truman Parkway in Annapolis. Magarace said the course has a “steady group” of 90-100 men and women.

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This year’s club championship was held last Thursday and was won by Ken Crider, a newly-arrived resident to the community who was competing in the tournament for the first time. Crider’s score for two rounds was 60, edging Charlie Heller’s 61. Thirteen golfers competed, an increase over last year.

“The weather was great and the course was in great shape,” said Magarace, complimenting groundskeeper Stewart Richards for the job he does keeping the nine-hole tract in “great condition.”

“He’s been here 19 years, longer than I have, and does a great job,” Magarace added.

The weekly scrambles matches will continue, but the final major golf event is the Heritage Harbour Ryder Cup, which has been a yearly staple since the course was first opened for play.

Magarace said it is the “most popular” event held.

The field for the tournament consists of 12 men and 12 women who qualify based on points they accumulate during the season playing in weekly tournaments. They are then placed on two teams − six men and six women − who face off in two-person matches.

“It’s our most popular event, the members love it,” Magarace said. “It is a big event.”

“After the first week of October, play really drops off,” Magarace said. “We cater to the (senior) community, many of whom relocate to Florida for the winters.”

In Thursday’s men’s day tournament, Dale Nichols won low gross with a score of 29, two-over par, and Bernie Jacobs had the low net with a 22. Crider finished second with a net score of 25.

Berkshire Wins Again: Severna Park professional long drive golfer Kyle Berkshire won the tour’s latest event last week with a drive of 409 yards at the Tennessee Big Shot Tournament in Kingsville.

Berkshire’s first-place finish held his No. 1 ranking in the world and also increased his lead for the 2019 national title headed into the National Long Drive World Championship tournament to be held Sept. 3-4 in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

During last week’s nationally televised tournament, Berkshire was also credited with an officially timed and accredited speed of 428.8 miles per hour, a new world record.

Heading into the World Championship event, Berkshire leads the second-place golfer, Tim Burke, by 1,325 points, 6.875-5,500. Berkshire previously won his first long-drive tournament at the Winstar Casino range, where the WLDC tourney is to be held. The action will be covered by the Golf Channel.

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Cannon Club: The club’s Junior Club Championship ended up being a family affair for the Richardson brothers, two of which won age group titles with a third finishing second in a head-to-head match with his brother.

In the 9-11-year-old division, Michael Peterson carded a 9-hole score of 51 to defeat Winston Thomas, who shot a 56. In the other two age groups, however, it was a Richardson taking home the title.

In the 12-13 age group, Beau Richardson was unopposed, winning the title. In the 13-18 age group, Lance Richardson downed his brother Kyle Richardson, 2 and 1, in a match scheduled to go 18 holes. Kyle Richardson was the defending champion in the age group.

Compass Pointe: Play was on the East course this week for both men and women. The 5 p.m. tee time began this week.

Heritage Harbour: In the Men’s Day Low Gross/Net tournament held August 15, Charlie Heller won low gross with a 29. Low net went to Bob Lehmkuhl with a 26, tied with George Croft. Lehmkuhl won by match of cards.

In the Aug. 16 Scrambles Tournament, Heller, Bill Foley and Dana Gill teamed for a 24, winning first place.

In the Aug. 17, Mixed Member- Guest Tournament, Lehmkuh and Marty Brasse teamed for a 110, edging the team of Joni Jones and Randy Holofcener (111) by a single stroke, Dale and Jim Nichols placed third with a 112 score.

Naval Academy: On Aug. 20, in the Ladies 9-hole league, Glenda Lynchard won low gross and Pat Wright and Jane Bowen tied for low net in the First Flight. In the Second Flight, Carole Schneider won low gross and Barbara Firebaugh won low net. Low putts for the entire field was won by Elaine Parks.

In the Navy Golf Ladies 9 Hole league matches played on Aug. 13, low gross was won by Frances Means in the First Flight and by Judy Smith in the Second Flight. Low net was taken by Susie Dilonardo in the First Flight and by Martha Hardesty in the Second Flight. Low putts was shared by Dilonardo and Anni Schnabel.

South River: The club held its 2019 stroke play championship last weekend. Cheryl Dumas won the women’s stroke play title and Carol Mattingly won the First Flight title.

In men’s play, Randy Sroka won the men’s stroke play championship, Andrew Venters was the first flight winner and Terry Thorne won the second flight. Allen Williams won the senior stroke play championship.